Hyundai Motor UK has recruited former Saab and JLR executive David Pugh as its new marketing director.

Pugh has over twenty years of automotive marketing experience that he will call upon to further develop the brand’s marketing activities in support of Hyundai’s growth in the UK.

In the past decade, Hyundai has more than doubled its market share to 3.5% and projects it will sell 88,000 vehicles in 2015. Pugh will be responsible for driving a marketing strategy targeted at achieving sustainable growth and accelerating the brand towards its 5% UK market share goal.

Tony Whitehorn, Hyundai Motor UK president and chief executive, said: “David Pugh’s wealth of industry experience will prove essential as Hyundai UK sets its sights on six-digit sales figures.

“Our model range is arguably the newest in Europe, a strong base from which we can consolidate our offering of being the most accessible premium automotive brand, delivering great design and innovation tailored to the needs of our customers.”

Pugh, who has an MBA from the London Business School, joined General Motors in 1994 to support its finance and marketing operations in the UK and USA, then headed Saab’s UK marketing team before leading the global marketing of Saab Automobile Parts.

More recently, he has held senior roles in Jaguar Land Rover’s global brand management and global product marketing teams.